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Andrea
Beginner September 2018

Should i have a bridal shower if I'm having a small intimate wedding?

Andrea , on January 12, 2018 at 1:11 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 1 30

Hi ladies,

I need some input: My fiancé and I are having a small intimate wedding ceremony for our immediate families (25 guests). There won’t be a reception, just a cocktail hour after the ceremony for our immediate families. My mom and sisters want to throw me a bridal shower, but I'm thinking it would be rude too since not everyone that would attend is invited to the wedding ceremony...?

Thank you ladies!

30 Comments

Latest activity by Ava, on February 9, 2021 at 7:11 PM
  • Susan
    Super November 2018
    Susan ·
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    Rule of thumb is if they’re invited to the shower, they should be invited to the wedding. I would be offended if I gave a gift at the shower and didn’t get a wedding invite
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  • Sarah
    Master June 2016
    Sarah ·
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    Yes this would be rude. Essentially this says “you’re good enough to buy me a gift but not to attend my wedding”.
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  • Happy Hedgie
    VIP September 2018
    Happy Hedgie ·
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    Yes, it is rude to invite someone to your shower if they are not invited to your wedding. It is very gift-grabby.

    You could have a very small shower where just aunts, cousins, grandmas, etc. (the ladies invited to the wedding) are included though.

    I'd also suggest hosting a proper reception after your wedding since this is a thank you to your guests for attending your ceremony. It should not be too expensive to book a private dining room at a local restaurant and take everyone for dinner afterward.

    I inviting 20-25 to our intimate wedding so I completely understand wanting to keep it small but, you still need to properly host.

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  • Red Queen
    VIP May 2018
    Red Queen ·
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    I would not invite people to the shower but not to the wedding.

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  • Going to the chapel
    Master July 2017
    Going to the chapel ·
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    One of the consequences of a small wedding is that you don't get to have all the extras, like a wedding shower with people not invited to the wedding.

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  • Ashley
    VIP May 2018
    Ashley ·
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    Only invite ppl who are invited to the wedding
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  • muriel
    Champion June 2018
    muriel ·
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    I think you already know it would be rude.

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  • Andrea
    Beginner September 2018
    Andrea ·
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    That is very true. Thank you.

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  • Adrianna
    Expert June 2018
    Adrianna ·
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    It wouldn't be rude. It wouldn't be you throwing a shower for yourself anyway. Many people would still want to be a part of your special time, and if they're close to you they will understand that you want a small intimate wedding. If someone wants to throw you a shower, they certainty can!
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  • BlueHenBride
    Master March 2017
    BlueHenBride ·
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    The only people that should be invited to a shower are people who are also invited to the wedding. If they really want to throw you a celebration, it would be appropriate if they threw a very small shower and just invited the other ladies who are invited to the wedding. Otherwise, it would be best to decline the shower.
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  • Charli
    Expert May 2018
    Charli ·
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    We're also having a small wedding and my mom wanted to throw us a shower back home. I told her I didn't really want a shower so she's doing a party for us post wedding to celebrate so no one gets the wrong idea or thinks we're asking them for a gift.

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  • Andrea
    Beginner September 2018
    Andrea ·
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    That's what my friend is saying. When people have destination weddings they know not everyone can attend, but they still have bridal showers and all. Something to think about, thanks for the input.

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  • Andrea
    Beginner September 2018
    Andrea ·
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    That's a good idea, I would actually prefer that as well. Thanks!

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  • Happy Hedgie
    VIP September 2018
    Happy Hedgie ·
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    Just because other people do things in breach of etiquette doesn't mean it is appropriate for you to do it too.

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  • Sarah
    Master June 2016
    Sarah ·
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    But they shouldn’t have anyone on the shower list who isn’t invited to the DW. That happened to me once and because of it and because H was invited to the grooms bachelor party even though we weren’t invited to the wedding, we're no longer friends with that couple.
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  • L
    Savvy August 2018
    Lyndsey ·
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    I am in a similar situation. I will be having a small destination ceremony with family, and then a reception with everyone else back home. Is it okay to invite the people who will be at the reception?
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  • Adrianna
    Expert June 2018
    Adrianna ·
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    Yup! Definitely.
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  • JustKidding
    VIP April 2018
    JustKidding ·
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    If I was invited to a shower for someone having a DW that I wasn't invited to, I'm pretty sure I would stop talking to that person. That is gift grabby as hell.

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  • AbeFroman
    Devoted October 2018
    AbeFroman ·
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    My mother offered to throw a shower for me and I declined cause our wedding will be on the small side (around 40 people). There are upsides to having a small event but the downside is that you generally don't get the extras
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  • An
    Super September 2019
    An ·
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    As PPs have said, you can have a shower but it should only be with people that are invited to the wedding. How many ladies are coming to the wedding that you would want to invite? A 5-10 person shower will still be great! It will just be more intimate, like your wedding.


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